Whereas the Community Charter Bylaw Enforcement Ticket Regulation has been amended to increase maximum Municipal Ticket Information MTI fine amounts from 1,000 to 3,000, but the maximum fine amount for Bylaw Offence Notices BON under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act remains at 500, which is inconsistent with inflation rates and is not enough of a financial disincentive for many bylaw infractions, especially for short-term rentals; And whereas BONs are more commonly used for bylaw enforcement as they require less evidentiary and administrative work than MTIs and can be disputed through a neutral adjudication process rather than tying up the court system: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial government to increase the maximum penalty for Bylaw Offence Notices and amend the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act accordingly.
Ministry of Attorney General Bylaw Offence Notices are a fair, efficient and cost-effective way to enforce local bylaws. The ministry is committed to supporting local governments with bylaw enforcement tools, and in particular aims to help local governments enforce against short term rental bylaw infractions to ensure the availability of affordable housing in their communities. In 2024 ministry staff conducted research and engagement with local governments and other interested parties to obtain input about the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, including the maximum fine amount for bylaw offence notices. This work continues into 2025 with further consultation and review to assess the impacts of increasing the amount and to determine an appropriate maximum fine.